Gülşirin (Şirin) ŞAVLI

My ART EVS Volunteering Experience in Bulgaria

Hello, KOZ-DER family,

I am Gülşirin (Şirin) Şavlı. I have returned to Türkiye after completing my two-month ART EVS volunteering project in Madan, Bulgaria.

Although some time has passed, what I experienced, what I learned and what it gave me are still as vivid as on the first day. So I wanted to share this journey, and how it made me feel, with you.

A New Start in Madan

When I began the project I did not know exactly what was waiting for me. Spending two months in another country and adapting to a new culture and a different routine was exciting and a little uncertain.

But from my first days in Madan I began to feel it was one of the best decisions I had made.

Madan, with its nature, its calm and its warm people, became a special place where I felt at peace. I did not only get to know a new country; I also got to know myself better, became more open to new experiences and learned to adapt more easily.

Art Workshops and Making Things

Throughout the project we worked mainly in art workshops. We designed and made handmade pieces together and sold them at the festival held in Madan.

One of the things that struck me most was seeing how differently people working with the same materials can create.

Even though we were all given identical materials, by the end of the day everyone had brought their own imagination, character and perspective into their work. The different results from the same conditions were a wonderful illustration of how varied and creative people can be.

Rediscovering What Volunteering Means

Seeing our pieces attract interest at the festival and finally turn into support for children with special needs made our effort far more valuable to me.

Through this project I understood better that volunteering is not only about helping: it means putting in effort, creating and being able to contribute to someone through the work you do.

Intercultural Experience

The experience also taught me to communicate with different people and gain new perspectives. Throughout the project and on my travels I had the chance to meet people from other countries.

Talking with people from other cultures, ways of life and experiences let me see the world from a wider angle.

Seeing that good communication is possible through shared interests, sincere conversation and shared experience — even when we spoke different languages — was unforgettable.

What the Project Gave Me

Over those two months I saw my confidence grow, found I could adapt more easily to new environments and discovered how valuable stepping out of my comfort zone can be.

Being somewhere I had never experienced, meeting new people and getting to know another culture closely gave me a great deal, both personally and socially.

When I came back my suitcase held more than gifts and photographs: it held memories I will not forget, valuable experience and gains that will stay with me for years.

Thank You

My heartfelt thanks to everyone who made this unforgettable journey possible — above all KOZ-DER, whose support I felt at every stage from the application onwards.

This project is certainly one of those experiences I will always be glad I took on. I am so grateful for a journey that gave me new perspectives, helped me grow and left me with unforgettable memories.

I hope our paths cross again on future projects.

With love, Gülşirin (Şirin) Şavlı Bulgaria ART EVS Volunteer